Wrath Games by B. T. Narro Read Free Book Online

forming the py into an even bed so the block would remain steady, the feeling not much different than holding myself up by my arms in the push-up position.
    I moved the bed of py carrying the block of wood over atop the next nearest block, then carefully lowered it until the py was squeezed between the two. Then I let the energy be free and it scattered apart like a disrupted steam cloud, the blocks coming together with a soft thunk .
    I did the same with four more blocks, creating a tower of six in about a tenth of the time it would’ve taken any man to lift them with his back and arms. The top of the tallest block was a good foot higher than I could reach, but getting it there wasn’t nearly as difficult as what I had planned next.
    Jaymes had asked me to show him how much I could lift, and I would.
    I stood close to the corner of the small tower of blocks and took a few breaths, preparing my mind and body for the exertion.
    “You’ve done this before, I hope” Jaymes commented. He must’ve realized what I was about to do.
    “Yes.”
    In the span of a heartbeat, I pulled all the energy I would need into a sphere. It hovered between me and the tower, blurring the appearance of the wood. I broke it down the center, then stretched each piece into a long, thin line that was my height.
    I enclosed the energy around opposite sides of the tower, careful to press both firmly and at even force. Just holding so much energy against its will felt like I was sprinting. My breaths quickened and my chest started to burn, but the worst was yet to come.
    I pressed harder and harder, the blocks squeaking as py squeezed against them. I needed the movement of my hand for this, both actually. I raised them up, a groan escaping because of the terrible strain of lifting the tower as high as my waist. I held it there for the span of three short breaths until I couldn’t keep it afloat any longer. I used my last bit of strength to push the tower away from me, ensuring it wouldn’t topple my way and crack my skull. The blocks of wood crashed against each other with a grinding sound like a house collapsing.
    “Three hundred pounds—can’t lift more than that?”
    Was he serious? The commander had his arms folded, unimpressed. Just staying on my feet was an effort as I tried to regain my breath without appearing weak.
    “No, that’s it.”
    “How many blocks could you lift from where I’m standing?”
    I had a bad feeling he would tell me to show him as soon as I gave the answer. He was about ten yards from the scattered tower.
    “Two,” I said.
    “Show me.”
    “Damn.”
    After I did it, he told me to lift two blocks at the same time.
    I warned him, “I don’t have any practice lifting two heavy objects at once.”
    “Let me see you try.”
    I gave it three attempts but couldn’t keep two of them afloat without stacking them. It wasn’t that the strain was too much on my mind. It was the complexity of getting py around both blocks at once. The py surrounding one block would always shift over toward the one that took my focus. It felt like trying to move one toe without the others. I figured I could with practice.
    “I can lift three pebbles at once,” I told him. “But that’s because they’re light.”
    “If you can lift a stack of six blocks, and you can lift three pebbles at once, then you can lift two blocks at once. I want to see you do it by the end of the day tomorrow.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Jaymes grabbed the steel helmet at his feet and put it over his head. He attached vambraces to both his arms next. Last were his gloves. By the time he was done, no skin showed. He drew his sword from its sheath.
    “Disarm me.” His voice was muffled from behind the helmet.
    I didn’t have the strength Eizle had possessed. I vividly recalled him ripping swords out of enemies’ hands. One man had managed to hold on, yet the force of Eizle’s pull had dragged the man across the ground for a whole yard. I would have to be